A spectral elephant strode in front of the spectre’s and Angelica, clearing the shadows from their path. The Tamer lead the way, cracking his whip as he went.
“Well, I quite like this arrangement. If only we were able to have done it when this night started.” The jester jeered.
The Tamer ignored him as he continued on.
Angelica looked disaprovingly at the Jester, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“Leren.” she said softly.
“Yes?”
“What do you make of all this?”
“What do you mean?”
“These shadows, the dead coming to life, the stone statues. What does it all mean?”
He didn’t respond at first.
“Did you hear me Leren?” Angelica asked.
“...yes, I heard you. I have my suspicions, but…”
“But?”
“Certain things don’t fit together.”
Angelica raised her brow, “Care to explain?”
Leren sighed as he relented to her questioning, “There was a story about shadows like these. I heard it through my service in the church.”
“Story? I haven’t heard of such a thing. You never taught me anything of the such through all our lessons.”
“You never learned it because the story was a part of a book that was ruled as blasphemy.”
Angelica smirked, “Blasphemy as in against the religion. Well, we’re living it aren’t we.”
Leren smacked her on the side of the head, “Don’t imply such a thing. Those types of rulings are highly poilitized in the church. Some branches hold the story to be true.”
“But not most.”
“Not most, and not the ones that matter.”
Angelica crossed her arms, “Well then what’s the story.”
“It mainly consists of a man conquering different demons, including ones that used shadows.”
“Then why was it blasphemous?”
Leren’s voice lowered as if his words would strike anyone who heard them down, “The man did not have an angel.”
“I see.”
Leren continued, “In the story there was a demon, a woman, whom fed on the despair of her victims. It was said that she corrupted those who gave into her, and they were eternally under her control.”
“Does she have a name?”
Leren shook his head, “She was only referred to as the Mistress of Tragedy.”
“That’s all well and good, but what doesn’t match up in all that.”
“Think before you ask such an obvious question.”
Angelica looked at her surroundings. Dead bodies lay on the side of the road as well as stone statues of the shadowy beast. The spectral elephant was still keeping the shadows at bay, and upon looking at the shadows for a second time, Angelica’s eyes widened.
“They're not demonic.”
Leren nodded, “Yes, so either we have not encountered the same force, or the book is false.”
Angelica shook her head, “We can’t be able to answer those right now, but what do you think of all these stone statues.”
“I have no idea what they mean, but you should keep your guard up. The man that made them could be anywhere around us.”
“Do you think he could be an ally.”
“Possibly, but just because he is killing shadows doesn’t make him our ally. Be careful regardless.”
Angelica nodded and looked down the road.
Rogue, she thought.
Yes?
This shadow you saw what should we expect from him?
Expect?
Yes.
He was…odd. Gazing at the moon as if in some type of trance.
You didn’t answer my question
The Rogue’s voice was twisted into one of dark amusement, I believe you already know the answer to that. If we go to that shadow, a fight is unavoidable. If it’s not powerful, others will come to its aid, and if it is…”
I understand. You’ll still fight?
If you die, I won’t see my wish fullfilled. Does that answer your question? He spoke dryly.
Angelica gave a sigh and made her way to the Tamer, “There is a fight coming.”
He gave his whip a crack, “I know.”
“It’s just, this might be worse than the one in front of the clinic, and that was…Anyway wait I’m trying to say is that I don’t know how much your pity for me will motivate you to stay.”
“Are you afraid I’m going to leave?” Another crack of his whip.
“Can you blame me?”
“If you were to die in what is about to happen, I will still fight with all my strength to defend this town and its people until I’m forced back into the void.”
Angelica furrowed her brow, “But why would you do such a thing?”
The Tamer went silent for a moment, “I don’t have the heart to abandon these people. Does that answer satisfy you?”
Angelica reluctantly nodded, “I just hope that’s enough to carry us through it.”
“It will be.”
They all finally came upon the seawall at the edge of town. On top of it stood a solitary figure clothed in shadow. It didn’t make any sign that it noticed them. It simply stared at the moon.
The Rogue appeared next to Angelica, “There he is. The same as when I saw him last.”
Angelica considered the shadow for the moment, “He doesn’t look threatening.”
The Jester gave a laugh, “Threatening? That thing could probably be knocked over by a small breeze!”
Angelica turned to the Jester, “If that’s what you think…why don’t you go see what he’s doing?”
“Might you by chance let me appear? Spectrally of course?”
Angelica furrowed her brow, “Those things can already see you as you are. Now get on with it.”
The Jester gave a mocking salute and disappeared. He reappeared on the sea wall in front of the shadow.
The Jester got into the shadows face, and received no response. The shadow was dressed in rags, and as he faced the moon his eyes were wide and he wore a faint smile on his lips.
“Why what a stupid face that is.” The Jester said.
The Jester began to walk behind him, “Have you gotten lost.”
No response.
The Jester playfully tapped on the shadow's shoulder and pulled his ear, “Nothing? Really? Are you on something? If so, mind telling me what it is?”
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No response.
The Jester gave a long overexageratted sigh as he ran his hand down his mask, “You're really not gonna give me anything are you? What the hell is so great about the damn moon?”
No response.
The Jester shrugged his shoulder and readied his cane, “It’s a bit more than a small breeze, but…”
The Jester swung his cane at the shadow with a glee, but things didn’t go quite as planned.
By the time the swing was complete the shadow stood in the same place, but facing him. A dagger was now embedded into the Jester abdomen.
“Huh?” The Jester let out.
The next thing he knew he was slammed into the ground in front of Angelica.
“I must admit. He is much more threatening than I initially thought,” The Jester said.
The shadow stood at the top of the sea wall with a single dagger. It now gazed down upon them with indifference.
The Tamer sent out a spectral lion in response, but in the blink of an eye it was torn apart and the shadow seized the Tamer by the throat.
“That mask…” Its face broke out in fury, “Are you one of them?! Are you a member of the Zoo?”
“I might have an animal on this mask, but I’m not one of them.” The Tamer said lightly.
“Then why do you not fear me?”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve found myself in a situation like this.”
“Oh, but you have never faced me.”
The Tamer shook his head, “Oh no, something much worse.”
ten snakes flew out of his hand and the shadow retreated a little, relinquishing him.
Before the shadow could recover, the Rogue appeared on his back with his knife ready, but before the Rogue could do anything, the shadow moved backwards at blinding speeds into the seawall. The Rogue laid against the now cracked wall, holding his side.
The shadow started to make his way towards Angelica
As he walked to more figures appeared out of the shadows. The Ram and the man with the demon heart.
“I see you have found the saint, Red Mist.” The Ram said.
“Fshufhusahoiuhf” The man with the demon heart let out. His tongue was still a stub from the Rogue’s work.
Red Mist looked to the man with the demon heart, “What happen to him.”
“His tongue was taken by one of her spectres.”
Angelica’s eyes widened at the entry of the other two shadows. She turned around and tugged on Leren’s robes with expecting eyes.
Leren shook his head, “I don’t think this is something we can win as we are. You could summon another spectre or…”
“I can’t summon another one. They’ll just laugh me off again.”
Leren scrunched his forehead, “The only thing you can do is give one of us a body.”
“Don’t you remember what just happened!?”
“I know, I know.”
Angelica looked around frantically for some kind of signal for what to do and her gaze rested on the Jester.
Rogue, She thought.
Ahh…Yes.
I need you to stall for time.
I am not good with words.
Hopefully you can come up with some as sharp as your blade.
She rushed to the Jesters side, “You better start shaking that stick of yours.”
The Rogue slowly stood up from his place against the sea wall behind the shadows. The sound of bells could be heard.
“Ram!” He said.
The Ram turned around and faced the Rogue, “I have no time for you Snake. My mistress demands the Saint’s head.”
“Before you do that, I have a question…What does your companion have against the Zoo?”
The man sped to the Rogue and looked him over, “What do you know about them?”
The Ram whimpered to the sky, “He was betrayed just like us. Left to the rats after being a faithful servant.”
The Rogue craned his neck at the man in front of him, “You’re faster than the Falcon, and I don’t remember your voice. You weren’t a member of the order, were you?”
The man’s eyes shot open in a tearful rage as he smacked the Rogue to the side with lighting speed, sending him hurtling away until he rolled to a stop on the ground.
“Don’t group me with them!” A sorrowful tone broke through his rage, “I was a Vindex. A Vindex!”
Angelica’s eyes practically burst out of her sockets when she heard the word.
“Keep jingling those bells!” She yelled at the Jester.
“Anything you want my lady, but they seem to be proving quite useless against them.”
“Anything helps.”
Angelica rushed to Leren, “I’m going to give you a body.”
“What?!” Leren let out
“Do you not want me to?”
“I just never thought you would do that?”
Angelica put her hands on her hips, “And why is that?”
“Well to be completely honest…” Leren jerked his head towards the Jester, “Why are those damn bells so loud! I can barely hear my own thoughts!”
Angelica waved his comment away, “The louder the better. Don’t avoid the subject.”
“It's just that you’ve been acting so childish since you became a saint. Holding that position over everyone’s head.”
“Childish!? You’re the one that refused to listen to me because you can’t stand the fact that I’m in charge of you now.”
Leren seemed to jump out of his skin in anger, “Me!? Childish!? Young lady you need to learn when to respect your elders.”
“And you need to learn to respect your betters!”
The two’s tone only became more antagonistic over time, signiling that the argument was far fom over.
Angelica hated that he did this. She doubted that he would ever see her as more than the child apprentice he had in life.
The Tamer interjected between them, “I’m sorry Charastros, but I don’t think we have much time to spare for an argument at the moment.”
Angelica clenched her fist, knowing he was right, “Fine, do you want the body or not!”
“I’ll take it if you give it, but I’m hardly the best option. I’m a priest, not a fighter, better to give it to one of us that is better suited.”
“You’re the only one I can trust you idiot!”
The Jester chimed in, “You hurt me my lady!” Angelica only rolled her eyes at his words.
“And what makes you say that?”
Angelica jabbed her finger at him, “Because you may not respect me, but unlike the others you hold God’s authority over all else. You’ll refuse to listen, but you won’t rebel.”
Leren looked at her for a moment then gave a chuckle, “I can’t deny that,” He then looked over his shoulder at the shadows surrounding the Rogue, “What do you want me to do?”
“You just have to create a spectacle that everyone in the village will see.”
“But won’t that attract more of them, and maybe something worse…” Leren caught Angelica eye as she raised her brow, “I see, do you really think whoever he is will help?”
“I have faith.”
“Don’t we all. Don’t we all. How long do you think that I can last against a Vindex?”
“A couple seconds.”
“I’m flattered.”
Leren turned around and faced the shadows, and Angelica uttered a prayer.
A beam of blinding holy light flashed into the sky, illuminating the entire village in a warm hue.
All the shadows instantly turned their attention to the figure of the Priest. Leren slowly ran his finger down the cross of his mask and uttered a humble prayer.
Angelica’s mouth practically dropped at the scene, “It’s impossible for someone to miss that.”
The Jester looked upon the scene and cursed himself, “I can’t let him outshine me like that!” He started shaking the bells of his cane with unmatched fervor, “But then again if he dies, I could get a body.”
***
A man swung his feet as he sat on the hand of a stone statue. Miscellaneous body parts were littered around him.
As the man looked at the heads on the ground, he covered his eyes, “Why do I look so stupid when I die.”
He took a bite of bread in his hands. It was stale and chalky, practically threatening to pull his teeth out he chewed a piece off.
He looked down at it regretfully, “That woman was so kind, but her bread really sucks,” He turned towards the face of the statue. The thing had a long snout andrazor-sharpp teeth. The hand that he sat on was the size of two men, appearing quite comical relative to the size of the rest of the body.
The sound of bells reverberated in the air, “Bells?” The man’s ears perked up as he looked around, but he soon hung his head, “Shouldn’t get excited, probably just someone using a fake charm to ward these things away.”
He ate his bread in solace for a few moments before a blinding light burst forth into the night away from him, “Or not.”
He stuffed the rest of the bread in his mouth and jumped from the statue's hand.
***
The shadows looked upon Leren’s new form and considered theire options for a moment before Red Mist stepped forward, “You seem different then you were before priest.” He eyed the Rogue behind him, “What exactly are you?”
Lighting started to crackle in the once clear night sky, and thunder rumbled, signailing its might.
“I could say the same thing to you. I know your name, Red Mist, the Vindex of Dalion. I heard you were the most pure and selfless of them all. How far you have fallen.”
“I have not fallen. I have been reborn in my mistress’s embrace. I see the world for what it truely is, a tragic and cruel place. In her embrace I am saved from it, and for that I will follow her to the ends of eternity.”
“What a cruel fate of grand illusion.” Leren said sternly.
“One can only understand it if they have experienced true suffering. I will ensure that my mistress gets what she wants for what she did, and what she wants is that little saints head.”
“Following your mistress’s commands will be the end of you.”
“How are you so sure? How can someone like you kill a Vindex?”
Lighting began to strike the area near which the stood sporadically, “Your mistress’s wishes brings you in direct conflict with my lady and her champions of God.”
Angelica smirked from behind him, “What did you just call me?”
Leren ignored her as he stared down the Vindex in front of him.
The Ram’s face took on one of confusion as he turned to the Rogue, “You? A Champion of God?” However, the Rougue had disappeared from sight and appeared on the back of the Ram, “Why so surprised?”
Red Mist turned his attention to the Rogue’s attack, but his eyes suddenly narrowed.
FWEET
The Vindex caught a stone spear that was inches away from his face with an apathetic expression.
A whistle rang out from the top of the building and a man jumped from it to the ground nonchalantly. He walked to them and an another stone spear seemed to sprout from his hand.
Red Mist looked unimpressed, “You must be the one that causing my mistress so much trouble. Who are you?”
The man tested his spear in the air as he made his way to the shadow, “Me? I’m just Willin Ferian, Vindex of Melgon.”